Second labour after first fast labour

[Variouscricket29]

I'm just looking for some reassurance/advice I suppose which I haven't really had from my midwife! My first labour was 3 hours from first contraction to baby being born and whilst it was intense it went really well and I feel positively about it. Everyone keeps telling me I need to be prepared for a quicker labour this time round, which I'm trying to get my head around whilst also preparing myself for things to be different and longer. My midwife never says much when I ask about what I should do when I go into labour this time, just says my body will know what to do and will wait till I make it to hospital for birth which I'm not sure is that helpful. How did other STMs find labour after a first precipitous one? I plan to ring the hospital ASAP after first inklings of labour. Home birth also not an option for us for several reasons.

Didn’t work like that for me . First birth was 4 hours all in. Second one was an all day event. Third one was somewhere in the middle. I don’t think you can ever really tell. I thought number two would be fast but couldn’t have been more wrong.

Advising you that you’re likely to have a quicker birth is correct and yes your plan to reach out as soon as you have an inkling things are starting would be sensible. Other than that there isn’t a lot you can do really, other than be prepared from 37 weeks onwards that it could happen and fast, ie ensuring you have support available if needed, aren’t too far away, etc etc. My second came a lot quicker than my relatively slow first, and it did take me by surprise but all still went well.

Maybe have some ‘birthing stuff’ ready at home just in case (towels, waterproof stuff).

My second came very quickly (20 minutes from when I knew I was in labour). Luckily my partner was with me, at the time, and the childminder was only 4 houses away; otherwise I would have the baby in the back garden!

Also a fast labourer here. My second I was aware it could be fast like the first or throw a curve ball and be hours. But i played it safe and although the midwives on the phone where pushy for me to stay at home longer I was adamant I was coming in because I couldn't birth at home and lived too far from any sort of medical intervention.

Ended up birthing in the same sort of time as the first but at least I made it past the door of the room on the second one 😅
Have everything ready and plan to be stubborn as shit to get into the ward.

I had a fast labour with my first. 3 hours from first contraction and only 20 mins from 5cm to baby in arms. Painful but doable. No pain relief. Second time I went in to be induced as had reduced movements. They used a drip to induce me and it was 30 mins from when they put the drip up. Horrendous. Again no pain relief. They later told me women with a history of precipitous labours can react very badly to the drip induction ( which I did) and be hyperstimulated. If you find yourself needing an induction for any reason you need to be aware of that.

It didn’t work likd that fit me. Both my labours were almost exactly the same

An no midwife should be telling you such utter bollocks as your body knowing to wait until you get to hospital.

I wouldnt be traveling far from home/hospital from 37 weeks, would have a packed bag with me at all times, and have a really robust plan for looking after dc1 at the drop of a hat. Beyond that, you just need to go in at the first inkling, and insist on being checked vaginally before agreeing to go home (if they say its too early). Then hang out by the hospital for a couple of hours if they do send you home.

My labours reduced by around 50% each time.
From first contraction to birth, the first was 4 hours, second 2 hours and third 1 hour.
My second stages were all single contraction and jet propelled, which was disconcerting for everyone.

Yes my second was faster, about half the time. First was ~3.5hr and second was less than 2hrs - luckily I live close-ish to the hospital and baby was born about 10mins after we got there.
Best of luck!

My second was twins and did take an hour longer because the waters didn't break first.

I rang up at 4.30 and was told to come in at 9am when the day staff came on 🤪. I went straight in and had them at 7.30am. They didn't prepare anything - just broke my waters on the instructions of the registrar who was in bed. Because even though I had gone in, they were waiting to hand me over to the day staff.

I did try and talk about the possibility of it being very quick at antenatal appointments but everyone was very dismissive. But I did meet a sensible doctor when I went in for monitoring who said to come in with the first contraction.

I just wanted to be prepared and have plans in place.

I had to be calm and assertive in the moment.